August 13, (THEWILL) – The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) says each member of the Senate earns N1,063,860 as monthly salary and allowances.
Chairman of RMAFC, Muhammed Bello Shehu, made the disclosure on Tuesday, in a reaction to the recent controversy surrounding the actual salaries and allowances payable to members of the National Assembly.
Giving a breakdown of salary in a statement he personally signed, Shehu said the cumulative take-home pay include basic salary of N168,866:70; motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance of N126,650; N42,216:66 for personal assistant; domestic staff – N126,650:00; entertainment – N50,660:00; utilities – N50,660; newspapers/periodicals – N25,330:00; Wardrobe allowance – N42,216,66:00; house maintenance – N8,443:33 and constituency allowance – N422,166:66; respectively.
Shehu, however, said some allowances are regular while others are non-regular. Regular allowances are paid regularly with basic salary while non-regular allowances are paid as at when due. For instance, furniture allowance (N6,079,200 million) and severance gratuity (N6,079,200 million) are paid once in every tenure and vehicle allowance (N8,105,600 million), which is optional, is a loan which the beneficiary has to pay before leaving office.
“A closer look at the monthly entitlement of Senators reveals that each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1,063,860:00, consisting of the following: Basic Salary – N168,866:70; Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance N126,650:00; Personal Assistant N42,216:66; Domestic Staff – 126,650:00; Entertainment – N50,660:00; Utilities – N50,660:00; Newspapers/Periodicals – N25,330:00; Wardrobe – N42,216,66:00; House Maintenance – N8,443.33:00 and Constituency Allowance – N422,166:66; respectively,” he said.
He emphasised that with the exception of a few political and public office holders such as the President, Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, among others, all public and legislative officers are no longer provided with housing as was the case in the past.
“The Commission also wishes to use this opportunity to state that any allegation regarding other allowance(s) being enjoyed by any political, public office holder outside those provided in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be explained by the person who made the allegation.
“To avoid misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading citizens and members of the International Community, the Commission considers it most appropriate and necessary to request Nigerians and any other interested party to avail themselves of the opportunity to access the actual details of the present Remuneration package for Political, Public and Judicial Office holders in Nigeria published on its website: www.rmafc.gov.ng,” he stated.
Shehu acknowledged that the RMAFC does not have constitutional powers to enforce compliance with the proper implementation of the official remuneration package, a lacuna he said was being addressed by the National Assembly.
